Skies

A sky can be many things – dramatic, colourful, threatening, atmospheric, textural, - and the list goes on!  On these days I turn my camera upwards to record the visual excitement, placing an emphasis on the relationship between the sky and the land or water beneath it.  Occasionally I am so taken by a cloud effect that I will shoot that entirely. 

A sky can also be enhanced.  Many digital photographers forget to think about using a polariser, which can increase contrast and colour saturation, and provide greater clarity on a hazy day, making the clouds stand out more effectively.  Neutral density graduated filters are also useful if we wish to equalise the brightness imbalance between the sky and the land.  Another technique might be to take two consecutive pictures of the same scene, one exposed for the subject, and the next for the sky, and then blend them together later.

 

 

 

 

 

And finally....

"A sky is part of the landscape photographers’ palette of available elements, look at it carefully, watch it, keep an eye on it, but don’t always rely on the weather forecast!"